Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes a character recognition processing unit configured to execute character recognition processing on the image data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire one or more character string blocks included in the image data, from the image data, a selection unit configured to select a character string block to be used for setting of a file name, from among the one or more character string blocks acquired by the acquisition unit, and a setting unit configured to set the file name of image data by using a character recognition result of the character recognition processing unit for the character string block selected by the selection unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, acontrol method therefor, and a

Description of the Related Art

There is a work flow for reading text of a sheet (an original document)such as a business form by using a reader, and obtaining image data of adigitized image of the original document. In this flow, the digitizedimage data is given a file name according to the type or content of theoriginal document and stored into a predetermined folder. In thisprocess, if a user gives the file name by manual input, the types andthe number of original documents increase, which becomes a significantburden on the user. In particular, in a case where the user inputs thefile name by using a software keyboard due to a restriction on a userinterface (UI), the burden on the user increases. In addition, in a casewhere the user may be necessary to create a new folder, which alsoincreases the burden on the user.

As a technique for solving such an issue, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2011-15348 discusses the following method. First, a typeof original document and other information, such as a file naming ruleand a storage location rule, are associated with each other, andregistered. When an original document is read, the type of the readoriginal document is recognized, and a file name and a storage locationare automatically recommended to a user, by using a naming rule and astorage location rule corresponding to the read original document.Therefore, by setting a file naming rule and a storage location rule foreach type of original document only once, the user is free from the needfor giving a file name and specifying a storage location, afterward.This can greatly reduce a burden on the user.

According to the above-described related technique, it is necessary forthe user to register recommended setting beforehand. This places asignificant burden on a user who tries to register a complicated filenaming rule. This burden of registration of a complicated naming rulerequires a large amount of user operation to define the complicatednaming rule. An image processing apparatus described in the presentspecification provides a technique of naming a file by using a characterstring included in image data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an image processing apparatusincluding a configuration described below. In other words, according toan aspect of the present invention, an image processing apparatusincludes a character recognition processing unit configured to executecharacter recognition processing on the image data, an acquisition unitconfigured to acquire one or more character string blocks included inthe image data, from the image data, a selection unit configured toselect a character string block to be used for setting of a file name,from among the one or more character string blocks acquired by theacquisition unit, and a setting unit configured to set the file name ofimage data by using a character recognition result of the characterrecognition processing unit for the character string block selected bythe selection unit.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings are included in the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention. The attached drawings are used to describe theprinciple of the present invention, together with the descriptionthereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of aninformation processing system according to a first exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which an imageprocessing apparatus reads an original document, gives a file name toimage data of the original document, and transmits the file name to afile naming apparatus, according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing for generation ofinformation for naming a file of image data by the file namingapparatus, according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an original document tobe read, in step S201 in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of a user interface (UI) for filenaming to be displayed by a display unit, of the image processingapparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the example of the UI for file naming to bedisplayed by the display unit of the image processing apparatusaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the UI for filenaming to be displayed by the display unit of the image processingapparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a file naming rule according to thefirst exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating details of another file naming ruleaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of update of a rule in a<OCR area 1> in FIG. 9 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of OCR setting of a filenaming rule according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing for generation ofinformation for naming a file of image data by a file naming apparatusaccording to a second exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the attached drawings. The exemplaryembodiments to be described below are not intended to limit the presentinvention according to the scope of claims, and not all combinations offeatures to be described in the exemplary embodiments are necessary fora solution to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of aninformation processing system according to a first exemplary embodimentof the present invention. The system according to the first exemplaryembodiment will be described as a system that acquires image data of anoriginal document by optically reading the original document with adevice such as a scanner, and gives a file name to a file of the imagedata. This system includes an image processing apparatus 100, and a filenaming apparatus 120, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Here, the imageprocessing apparatus 100 and the file naming apparatus 120 (also animage processing apparatus) are connected to be able to perform datacommunication with each other via a network 150.

The image processing apparatus 100 includes a user interface (UI) 104, acentral processing unit (CPU) 105, a random access memory (RAM) 106, astorage unit 107, an image reading unit 108, an image output unit 109,and a display unit 110. These units are connected to be able tocommunicate with each other via a control unit 101. The control unit 101has a device control unit 102 and an image processing unit 103. Thedevice control unit 102 controls the entire image processing apparatus100. The image processing unit 103 processes image data.

When the image processing apparatus 100 is powered on, the CPU 105executes an initial program of the storage unit 107, thereby reading amain program from the storage unit 107, and loading the read mainprogram into the RAM 106. The RAM 106 is used for program storage, andused as a main memory for work. The CPU 105 controls operation of theimage processing apparatus 100, by executing the program loaded into theRAM 106. Therefore, the CPU 105 implements the functions of the unitssuch as the device control unit 102 and the image processing unit 103 ofthe control unit 101, by executing the above-described program.

The image reading unit 108 is, for example, a scanner. The image readingunit 108 reads a paper document (an original document), and acquiresimage data of a digitized image of the original document. Upon receivingthe image data acquired by the image reading unit 108, the control unit101 stores the received image data into the storage unit 107. Thecontrol unit 101 then transmits the image data stored in the storageunit 107 to the file naming apparatus 120 via the network 150, whenexecuting naming processing to be described below. Further, the controlunit 101 receives information for file naming from the file namingapparatus 120, via the network 150. This information for file namingwill be described in detail below.

The control unit 101 generates a UI screen for file naming, by using theimage data of the original document stored in the storage unit 107, andthe information for file naming received from the file naming apparatus120. The control unit 101 displays the generated UI screen at thedisplay unit 110. Further, the control unit 101 supplies the image data,of the original document stored in the storage unit 107, to the imageoutput unit 109. The image output unit 109 executes processing foroutputting the image data in various forms. For example, the imageoutput unit 109 stores the image data according to the original documentinto a storage medium. Alternatively, the image output unit 109 printsan image based on the image data, on a medium such as a paper medium.

The UI 104 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse (registeredtrademark), and other input-output devices, so that various settingvalues or specification values can be input and set. A user uses the UI104 according to the first exemplary embodiment to give a file name. Thecontrol unit 101 transmits the given file name to the file namingapparatus 120, via the network 150.

The image processing apparatus 100 described above is only an example.The image processing apparatus 100 includes the image reading unit 108and the image output unit 109, but may have a configuration in which theimage output unit 109 is not included.

The file naming apparatus 120 includes a CPU 127, a RAM 128, a storageunit 129, a display unit 130, and a UI 131. These units are connected tobe able to communicate with each other, via a control unit 121. Further,the control unit 121 has a device control unit 122 and a file namingunit 123. The device control unit 122 controls the entire file namingapparatus 120. The file naming unit 123 generates information for filenaming. The file naming unit 123 according to the first exemplaryembodiment has an optical character recognition (OCR) unit 124, amatching unit 125, and a file name presumption unit 126. The OCR unit124 performs optical character recognition of image data. The matchingunit 125 performs matching between pieces of image data. The file namepresumption unit 126 presumes a file name of image data.

The UI 131 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse (registeredtrademark), and other input-output devices, so that various settingvalues or specification values can be input. When the file namingapparatus 120 is powered on, the CPU 127 executes an initial program ofthe storage unit 129, thereby reading a main program from the storageunit 129, and loading the read main program into the RAM 128. The RAM128 is used for program storage, and used as a main memory for work. TheCPU 127 controls operation of the file naming apparatus 120, byexecuting the program loaded into the RAM 128. Therefore, the CPU 127implements the function of the control unit 121, by executing theabove-described program. Further, the control unit 121 displays imagedata of an original document stored in the storage unit 129, at thedisplay unit 130. Furthermore, the control unit 121 provides the filenaming unit 123 with image data, which is transmitted from, the imageprocessing apparatus 100 and saved, in the storage unit 129 of the filenaming apparatus 120.

The file naming unit 123 analyzes the image data, and generatesinformation for file naming. The control unit 121 then transmits thegenerated information to the image processing apparatus 100 via thenetwork 150. Further, the control unit 121 supplies a file naming resultreceived from the image processing apparatus 100, to the file namingunit 123. The file naming unit 123 updates a file naming rule, by usinga final file naming result. The OCR unit 124 performs characterrecognition processing on the image data, thereby extracting characterinformation included in the image data. The matching unit 125 calculatesa similarity level between pieces of image data. The file namepresumption unit 126 presumes a file naming rule based on a history ofpast file naming results, and generates a file name suitable for inputimage data.

The above-described configuration of the file naming apparatus 120 isonly an example, and the present invention is not limited to thisexample. For example, the file naming apparatus 120 can be implementedby a computer apparatus such as a server, but may be configured suchthat the functions of the storage unit 129 and the file naming unit 123are implemented by a remote computation source connected via the network150 called a cloud. Further, the image processing apparatus 100 may beimplemented such that the image processing apparatus 100 includes thefunctions of the file naming apparatus 120. Further, the file namingapparatus 120 may operate as an image processing apparatus that hasfunctions of the image processing apparatus 100.

Next, processing to be executed by the system according to the firstexemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing in which the imageprocessing apparatus 100 reads an original document, gives a file nameto image data of the original document, and transmits the file name tothe file naming apparatus 120, according to the first exemplaryembodiment. This processing begins when the UI 104 receives aninstruction for reading an original document from the user. The CPU 105loads a program from the storage unit 107 into the RAM 106, and executesthe loaded program, thereby implementing the processing illustrated inthis flowchart.

First, in step S201, the CPU 105 functions as the device control unit102, and controls the image reading unit 108 to read an originaldocument and acquire image data of the original document. The CPU 105then subjects the image data to correction processing such as colorconversion and tone correction by using the image processing unit 103,and stores image data obtained thereby into the RAM 106. The CPU 105then saves the image data stored in the RAM 106, into the storage unit107.

The processing then proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the CPU 10 5functions as the device control unit 102, and transmits the image datasaved in the storage unit 107 to the file naming apparatus 120 via thenetwork 150. Afterward, the CPU 105 stops the processing, untilreceiving necessary information for file naming from the file namingapparatus 120 (a process which is later described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 3). The processing then proceeds to step S203. In stepS203, the CPU 105 functions as the device control unit 102, and receivesinformation necessary for generating a UI screen for file naming, fromthe file naming apparatus 120. The information to be received hereincludes information about a result of OCR of image data, and arecommended file name. The information about the OCR result includesinformation about a character string included in image data obtained byOCR processing. Specifically, the information about the OCR resultincludes a character string block ID, a character string block position,a character string block size, and a character string in a characterstring block, of each of all character string blocks included in thecharacter block in the image data generated by scanning the document.The recommended file name information is information about a file nameof image data, recommended from the content of this image data. Therecommended file name information may be information indicating aspecific file name, or may be information according to a UI screen forfile naming. The latter is, for example, information that indirectlyrecommends a file name, such as forming a file name by combining acharacter string included in a character string block identification(ID) “2”, and another

character string included in a character string block ID “5”.

The processing then proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the CPU 105functions as the device control unit 102, and generates a UI screen forfile naming, by using the information obtained from the file namingapparatus 120 in step S203. The CPU 105 then displays the generated UIscreen at the display unit 110. Afterward, the CPU 105 accepts afile-naming instruction based on a user instruction input via the UI104. Here, the CPU 105 appropriately updates the UI screen for filenaming, based on an instruction from the UI 104. The processing proceedsto step S205, when the CPU 105 receives a notification indicatingconfirmation of a file name, from the UI 104.

Here, an example of the UI screen for file naming will be described withreference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an original document tobe read in step S201 in FIG. 2. Here, an order is illustrated as theexample.

FIGS. 5A through 6B illustrate an example of a UI for file naming to bedisplayed at the display unit 110 of the image processing apparatus 100according to the first exemplary embodiment. Here, a case where theoriginal document illustrated in FIG. 4 is read is illustrated.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a screen to be displayed first as a UIscreen, in a case where no recommended file name is present. Here, acharacter string block subjected to OCR processing is displayed in graybackground color. This image includes an area that is not in graybackground color even though this area is a character string portion.This indicates a character string block that has not been recognized inOCR. By selecting the character string block in gray background color,the user can specify the character string as a character string block tobe used for file naming. In this way, the user can give a file name, byusing a character string block included in image data.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which a character string block 501written as “ORDER” is selected by the user. When the character stringblock 501 is selected, the UI screen is updated, and an encircled number“1” indicating the character string block 501 being selected isdisplayed above an upper left part of the character string block 501.The encircled number “1” indicates a character string block beingselected first. In addition, a character string “ORDER”, which isincluded in the character string block 501 and recognized in OCR, isdisplayed in a text box 502 for file naming (a file name).

FIG. 6A illustrates a state where a character string block 503 writtenas “To Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation” is additionally selectedby the user. When the character string block 503 is selected, the UIscreen is updated, and an encircled number “2” indicating the characterstring block 503 being selected is displayed above an upper left part ofthe character string block 503. The encircled number “2” indicates acharacter string block being selected second. In addition, the characterstring “To Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation”, which is included inthe character string block 503 and recognized in OCR, is combined withthe already displayed character string “ORDER” by using “_” anddisplayed in the text box 502 for file naming.

In this process, even if the user desires only to add a company name byspecifying the character string block 503, the character string blockreading “Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation” and the characterstring block reading “To” are combined, and recognized as one characterstring block in OCR. For this reason, the character string reading “To”is also displayed in the text box 502.

FIG. 6B illustrates a result of a case where the user selects the textbox 502, and then edits the content by deleting “To”.

In FIG. 6B, the character string included in the text box 502 is“ORDER_Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation”. When the user presses afile naming button 504 in this state, the character string“ORDER_Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation” included in the text box502 is determined as a file name of the image data. In this way, theuser can give a name to a file, by utilizing a result of characterrecognition of image data obtained by reading an original document,without manually inputting a file name. However, some work is stillnecessary. Information about file naming including information about theuser operation performed here is transmitted from the image processingapparatus 100 to the file naming apparatus 120 according to a flow to bedescribed below. This information is then utilized for generation of arecommended file name.

Here, for example, in a case where a recommended file name created bythe file naming apparatus 120 is present, the screen illustrated in FIG.6B, for example, is displayed from the beginning. In this case, the usercan give a name to a file, only by pressing the file naming button 504in the screen in FIG. 6B. Therefore, work for file naming isconsiderably reduced.

Here, information about the recommended file name is information about acharacter string block to be used for file naming. Specifically,information is included which indicates that the character string block501 and the character string block 503 are to be used for file naming,as a first character string and a second character string, respectively.Further, the character string included in the character string block 503is modified from “To Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation”, whichcorresponds to the actual OCR result, to “Nishitoride Hakusan ShokaiCorporation”. This is obtained by deleting “To” according to at filenaming rule presumed using a past file naming result of the user.However, in the file naming apparatus 120, there is a possibility that“To” may be included as is, in a case where a presumed file naming ruleis simple. The quality of a recommended file name depends on a presumedfile naming rule. This presumption of a file naming rule will bedescribed below.

Another UI example will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the UI screen forfile naming to be displayed at the display unit 110 of the imageprocessing apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment. Acase where the original document illustrated in FIG. 4 is read isillustrated here as well.

In FIG. 7, not only a result of OCR but also other information can beused for file naming. First, each function part of the UI illustrated inFIG. 7 will be described. In fields 701 to 703, characters can bedisplayed and edited. A file name can be created by combining characterstrings in these fields. The user can select and thereby activate any ofthese fields, and then select a text portion (the character stringblocks 501 and 503) to be used. The user can thereby input a characterstring held by the selected text portion, and edit the input characterstring. In the fields 701, 702, and 703, the user can delete thecontents by using delete buttons 704, 705, and 706, respectively. Inaddition, when creating a file name, the user can specify a delimiterbetween character strings in each of these fields. Delimiterspecification pull-downs 707 and 708 are each used to specify thedelimiter. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the user can select anyone of “no delimiter”, “_”, “(“,”) ”, “-”, and “#”. In a case where thecontent in a field is deleted using any of the delete buttons 704 to706, the content of the delimiter specification pull-down 707 or 708corresponding to the deleted field is also deleted. When a fieldaddition button 709 is pressed, a new field can be added to create afile name. For example, assume that the field addition button 709 ispressed, in a situation where only the fields 701 and 702 as well as thedelimiter specification pull-down 707 are present. In this downcorresponding to the field are added.

A character string is input into each field by a character string blockrecognized in OCR, a meta-information button, and an arbitrary characterstring button. The user can use the character string block recognized inOCR, by selecting a recognized character string block, as in FIG. 5A toFIG. 6B. For example, when the user presses the character string block501 in FIG. 7 after activating the field 701, the character string“ORDER” included in the character string block 501 is input into thefield 701. By performing similar operation, the user can input thecharacter string “To Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation” included inthe character string block 503, into the field 702.

Further, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, a date button 710 and auser name button 711 are each provided as the meta-information button.For example, when the user presses the date button 710 after activatingthe field 703, the current date when the date button 710 is pressed isinput into the field 703. Similarly, when the user presses the user namebutton 711 after activating the field 703, the name of the userperforming the operation is input into the field 703. In this case,authentication processing for the user has been performed beforehand inthe image processing apparatus 100. The user uses an arbitrary characterstring button 712 to input an arbitrary character string. For example,when pressing the arbitrary character string button 712 after activatingthe field 703, the user can input an arbitrary character string into thefield 703. This character string is input using the UI 104.

The user can edit the character string thus input into each field, byusing the UI 104. The UI illustrated in FIG. 7 has such characteristicsthat the user can efficiently input a file name, and the system canacquire effective information for presuming a file naming rule. In otherwords, the system can acquire information indicating what kinds ofinformation are combined by the user to create a file name. In a casewhere the user manually inputs all of a file name, the system cannotacquire information indicating what kinds of information are combined tocreate the file name. In addition, in a case where only a characterstring block of an OCR result and an arbitrary character string can beused, it is necessary to input meta-information such as a user name, asan arbitrary character string. Therefore, it is difficult to recognizethis character string as “meta-information” during rule presumption. Inother words, when the user selects a component of a file name as in FIG.7, accuracy of presuming a file naming rule can be improved. FIG. 7 isonly an example, and a component of other file name may be selectable bythe user. In the first exemplary embodiment, the user names a file, byusing the UI screens described above.

Returning to FIG. 2, the description will continue. In step S205, theCPU 105 functions as the device control unit 102, and gives the filename determined in step S204 to the image data. Then, via the network150, the CPU 105 stores the image data with the file name at anappropriate storage location, based on an instruction provided from theuser through the UI 104. The processing then proceeds to step S206. Instep S206, the CPU 105 transmits a file naming result to the file namingapparatus 120. Information to be transmitted here includes a finallydetermined file name, information of a character string block of OCRused for the file name, and information indicating that a characterstring in the character string block of OCR is modified by the user ofthe image processing apparatus 100. The information to be transmittedalso includes information about meta-information such as a date used forthe file name, and information about an arbitrary character string inputby the user. Further, in a case where a recommended file name ispresent, information about whether the name is directly used as a filename is also included. This case will be described in detail below.

Next, processing in the file naming apparatus 120 according to the firstexemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing for generation ofinformation for naming a file of image data by the file naming apparatus120, according to the first exemplary embodiment. The processingillustrated in this flowchart begins upon receipt of image data from theimage processing apparatus 100. The CPU 127 loads a program from thestorage unit 129 into the RAM 128, and executes the loaded program,thereby implementing the processing illustrated in this flowchart.

First, in step S301, the CPU 127 functions as the device control unit122, and receives image data from the image processing apparatus 100 viathe network 150. The CPU 127 stores the received image data into thestorage unit 129. The processing then proceeds to step S302. In stepS302, the CPU 127 functions as the OCR unit 124. Specifically, the CPU127 reads the image data from the storage unit 129, and loads the readimage data into the RAM 128. The CPU 127 performs OCR processing on theloaded image data, and outputs information about a recognized characterstring block. The information about the character string block hereincludes the position of the character string block, the size of thecharacter string block, and a character string included in the characterstring block. The processing then proceeds to step S303. In step S303,the CPU 127 functions as the matching unit 125, and extracts a featureamount of the image data. The feature of the image of which the featureamount is extracted here is information about a character string blockobtained in OCR. The CPU 127 saves the feature amount thus obtained,into the storage unit 129, together with the information about thecharacter string block, in a set.

The processing then proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the CPU 127functions as the matching unit 125, and performs matching between thefeature amount obtained in step S303 and a feature amount of past imagedata. The matching here may be performed in a manner suitable for thefeature amount. For example, in a case where a local feature amount ofScale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) is used, matching may beperformed between local feature amount groups included in the respectivetwo pieces of image data, and the number of matching pieces may be usedas a matching degree. In a case where information about a characterstring block is used as a feature amount, a degree of overlap betweencharacter string blocks included in the respective two pieces of imagedata may be used as a matching degree. For example, a Jaccard index canbe used for the degree of overlap. The matching method employed here isnot limited to these examples, and an appropriate known technique can beused.

The processing then proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the CPU 127functions as the matching unit 125, and determines whether similar imagedata of the past is present, by evaluating the matching degree withrespect to the past image data, calculated in step S304. If the CPU 127determines that the similar image data is present (YES in step S305),the CPU 127 assigns an image cluster ID that is the same as the imagecluster ID of the similar image data of the past, and the processingproceeds to step S306. Here, the image cluster ID is an ID(identification information) for managing similar image data as a group.Such a group is formed because similar pieces of image data are highlylikely to adopt the same file naming rule. Here, the file naming rule ismanaged in a unit of the image cluster ID. On the other hand, if the CPU127 determines that the similar image data is not present (NO in stepS305), the CPU 127 assigns a new image cluster ID to the image data, andthe processing proceeds to step S310.

In step S306, the CPU 127 functions as the file name presumption unit126, and selects a file naming rule associated with the image cluster IDassigned to the image data. The processing then proceeds to step S307.In step S307, the CPU 127 functions as the file name presumption unit126, and generates a recommended file name for the image data, based onthe file naming rule selected in step S306.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a file naming rule according to thefirst exemplary embodiment.

Here, the file naming rule is, for example, represented by what isillustrated in Part (1) in FIG. 8. Part (1) in FIG. 8 illustrates atemplate of a file name. The template is generated when the userdetermines a file name using the UI illustrated in FIG. 7 ( “_” isselected in the delimiter specification pull-downs 707 and 708). Anaccording to a rule for each piece of image data, and corresponds to afield of the UI screen illustrated in FIG. 7. In other words, the field701 in FIG. 7 corresponds to a <OCR area 1> 801 of the template. Here,the OCR area 1 provided as a replacement target is the character stringblock 501 associated with the field 701 by the user. Further, the field702 in FIG. 7 corresponds to a <OCR area 2> 802 of the template. Here,the OCR area 2 provided as a replacement target is the character stringblock 503 associated with the field 702 by the user. Furthermore, thefield 703 in FIG. 7 corresponds to a <Date> 803 of the template. Here,“Date” is provided as a replacement target, because the field 703 andthe date button 710 indicating the meta-information of “date” areassociated with each other by the user in FIG. 7. The other part “_”corresponds to a specified delimiter. The delimiter specificationpull-down 707 in FIG. 7 corresponds to a delimiter “_” 804 of thetemplate, and the delimiter specification pull-down 708 in FIG. 7corresponds to a delimiter “_” 805 of the template. Further, “.pdf” isan extension of a file that is not illustrated in FIG. 7. A replacementrule of each pair of brackets < and > will be described next. The <OCRarea 1> means replacement with a character string in a specificcharacter string block of image data. Part (2) in FIG. 8 illustrates anexample of the rule.

A sub-rule ID 810 in Part (2) in FIG. 8 indicates a sub-rule ID of theOCR area 1. Each time the rule is updated, the sub-rule ID isincremented, and used for management of a sub-rule history. A characterstring block ID 811 indicates a character string block ID in similarimage data. Here, the OCR area 1 of the past similar image datacorresponds to a character string block ID “0001”. To use thisinformation, at first, a character string block of image data inprocessing is associated with a character string block ID of past imagedata. The character string block ID is then assigned to the characterstring block of the image data in processing. The determination of thecorresponding area is performed using similarity, such as similaritybetween the positions of character string blocks, or similarity betweenthe character strings of OCR results.

When the OCR area 1 (the character block ID “0001”) in the image data inprocessing is determined, predetermined processing defined by the ruleis added to a character string of an OCR result included in the OCR area1 of the image data in processing, so that a character string to beincluded in a file name is determined. An OCR setting 812 in Part (2) inFIG. 8 indicates an example of the rule. In this case, the characterstring is defined as a fixed character string “ORDER”, in the OCRsetting 812. Therefore, the character string reading “ORDER” is outputin a fixed manner, without depending on the character string of the OCRresult. This is because, from the file naming result of the past similarimage data, a rule is presumed to be the fixed character string:“ORDER”, and no variable character string is to be entered in thisportion. Therefore, the OCR area 1 is independent of the accuracy ofOCR.

Part (3) in FIG. 6 illustrates a sub-rule of the <OCR area 2>. Differentpoints from the sub-rule of the OCR area 1 are a character string blockID 620 and an OCR setting 821. The OCR area 2 corresponds to a characterstring block ID “0003” as indicated with the character string block ID820. Therefore, a character string of the character string block of thecharacter block ID “0003” in the image data in processing is areplacement target. Further, the OCR setting 821 is applied to thecharacter string in processing. The OCR setting 821 to be applied hereis to remove the character string “To” at the front. In other words,setting is made to change “To Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation” to“Nishitoride Hakusan Shokai Corporation”.

Part (4) in FIG. 8 illustrates a sub-rule of the <Date>. The <Date>means that it is a date to be defined by a detail rule, and to be usedfor a file name. For example, in Part (4) in FIG. 8, as defined by adetail rule 830, setting is made in such a manner that a date when imagedata is scanned is to be converted into a form of “YYYYMMDD”, and to beused for a file name. Therefore, in this example, Jul. 25, 2016 isconverted into “20160725”.

Part (5) in FIG. 8 illustrates a file name to be generated when theabove-described rule is applied to the image data displayed in FIG. 7.Here, a file name applied by the user is simply regenerated. However, ina case where another similar image data having the same image cluster IDis input, the same rule is also applied, and the generated file name isrecommended.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating details of another file naming ruleaccording to the first exemplary embodiment. Here, another file namingrule will be described with reference to FIG. 9, for a different partFrom FIG. 8.

As with Part (1) in FIG. 8, Part (1) in FIG. 9 is a template of a filename, and includes four areas, which are an OCR area, a date, anarbitrary character string, and a user name. Here, although a UIcorresponding to Part (1) pull-down and one field are added, and theassociation of each field is changed, as compared with FIG. 7. Part (2)to Part (5) in FIG. 9 illustrate sub-rules of the respective areas.

Part (2) in FIG. 9 illustrates a detail rule of a <OCR area 1>. In anOCR setting 901, a character string that is an OCR result of the OCRarea 1 is defined to be modified to a character string of 16 charactersformed by deleting a character string reading “Date” at the tail. Here,the text type in OCR is not specified. Further, from an OCR falseconversion history of past similar image data, a correction rule 902 forfalse conversion for each character is defined. Here, “E” is to bemodified to “3”. The correction rule can be generated from, acharacter-string modification history of the user.

Part (6) in FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the rule in Part (2)in FIG. 9 is actually applied. Here, assume that, a character stringincluded in the OCR area 1 as the original OCR result is “Order NumberR23E2 Date”, and a correct character string is “Order Number R2332”, Inthis case, the OCR setting 901 is applied, and the fixed characterstring “Date” is deleted. As a result, a character string 305 includedin the original OCR result is modified to a character string 906 reading“Order Number R23E2”. Here, the text type in OCR is not specified andtherefore, re-execution of the OCR and modification of the OCR resultare not performed. Next, the correction rule 902 for false conversion ofan individual character is applied, and the (character string ismodified to a character string 907 reading “Order Number R2332”.

In this way, a detail rule is applied to a simple OCR result. Thereby,even if there is an error in the OCR result, a character string can bemodified to a correct character string. To this end, it is important topresume an appropriate detail rule. Details of rule presumption will bedescribed below. The <Date> is defined by the detail rule in Part (3) inFIG. 9, and to be added to the file name. This is similar to Part (3) inFIG. 8. The <Arbitrary character string> means that a character stringdefined by a detail rule 903 in Part (4) in FIG. 9 is to be added to thefile name. The character string is a character string defined by theuser in past similar image data. In the example illustrated in Part (4)in FIG. 9, replacement with a character string “Person in charge” is tobe made, as defined by the detail rule 903. In a case where a characterstring defined by the user is not fixed for similar image data, the ruleof the part is not defined. In this case, other part of a file name isrecommended to the user, and for the part, the user may input for eachpiece of image data on a UI. The <User name> means that a user namedefined by a detail rule 904 in Part (5) in FIG. 9 is to be added to thefile name. In the example illustrated in Part (5) in FIG. 9, an actualpersonal name is acquired and used by making an inquiry to a LightweightDirectory Access Protocol (LDAP) server by using a login name, asdefined by the detail rule 904. The login name may be directly usedwithout making an inquiry to the LDAP server.

Performing the above-described conversion results in, for example, afile name of the image data based on the template of the file name inPart (1) in FIG. 9, as illustrated in Part (7) in FIG. 9. The file namethus created is presented as a recommended file name. The recommendedfile name may be a plurality of file names, in a case where there is aplurality of possibilities due to ambiguity of a rule, or in a casewhere there is a plurality of rules.

Returning to FIG. 3, the description will continue. In step S308, theCPU 127 transmits the recommended file name generated in the file namingunit 123, and information necessary for a UI screen related to therecommended file name, to the image processing apparatus 100 via thenetwork 150. The information to be transmitted here is information aboutthe OCR result of the image data and the recommended file name, asdescribed above. In the information about a template of a file name, afile name actually generated upon replacement, and information about acharacter string block associated with an OCR area of past image data.The association mentioned here means that a character string block ID ismade to be common to past similar image data. Afterward, the CPU 127stops the processing, until receiving a file naming result from theimage processing apparatus 100.

The processing then proceeds to step S309. In step S309, the CPU 127functions as the device control unit 122. Specifically, the CPU 127receives information about a file naming result from the imageprocessing apparatus 100 via the network 150, and saves the receivedinformation into the storage unit 129. The information to be receivedhere includes information indicating whether the recommended file nameis used for an actual file name, a file name finally determined,information about a character string block of OCR used for a file name,and information indicating that a character string of a character stringblock of OCR is modified by the user. The information to be receivedfurther includes information about meta-information such as a date usedfor a file name, and information about an arbitrary character stringinput by the user. After processing of S309, in step S312, the CPU 127functions as the file name presumption unit 126, and updates a filenaming rule. In a case where there is a sufficient amount of image datahaving an image cluster ID that is the same as the image cluster ID ofthe image data in processing, and the file name recommended by the filename presumption unit 126 is directly used by the user, the accuracy ofthe file naming rule is sufficient. In such a case, the CPU 127 may notupdate the file naming rule in step S312.

Next, the processing when proceeding from step S305 to step S310 will bedescribed.

First, in step S310, the CPU 127 functions as the device control unit122, and transmits information 100 via the network 150. In thisprocessing, a recommended file name is not transmitted in the case thata file name cannot be recommended. However, a default recommended filename might be transmitted. As for a character string block ID that isinformation about a character string block of OCR, there is no pastsimilar image data to be associated with and therefore, a new ID isassigned. Although there is no recommended file name presumed from theoperation of the user, a default recommended file name based on atemplate of a file name may be transmitted. Afterward, the CPU 127 stopsthe processing, until receiving a file naming result from the imageprocessing apparatus 100.

The processing then proceeds to step S311. In step S311, the CPU 127functions as the device control unit 122. Specifically, the CPU 127receives information about a file naming result from the imageprocessing apparatus 100 via the network 150, and saves the receivedinformation into the storage unit 129. The information to be receivedhere is similar to the information to be received in step S309, exceptfor information about whether a recommended file name is used.

Upon the execution of step S309 or step S311, the processing proceeds tostep S312.

Otherwise, the CPU 127 reads an existing file naming rule from thestorage unit 129 by using new data obtained in step S309 or step S311,and updates the file naming rule. When there is no existing file namingrule, a new file naming rule is created. The update of the file namingrule is performed in the file name presumption unit 126, which searchesfor a presumable rule by using a common final file name of an image datagroup having the same image cluster ID. In this way, the CPU 127 savesthe created, new file naming rule, or the updated file naming rule, intothe storage unit 129.

In a case where a template concept similar to the one described withreference to FIG. 8 is provided, and an image cluster ID is new, atemplate of a file name is presumed. In this case, if a UI similar tothe UI described with reference to FIG. 7 is prepared, contents set bythe user are directly used for the template of the file name.Subsequently, a detail rule is presumed for each template component. Inthat case, it is difficult to presume a common rule because there isonly one piece of image data and therefore, the contents set by the usermay be directly used.

Assume that information for forming a template of a file name lacks, dueto a restriction on a UI. In this case, it is necessary to presume atemplate itself of a file name, and highly accurate presumption cannotbe performed if the number of pieces of image data is insufficient. Insuch a case, each time the image data increases, a template of a filename is presumed. This presumption is to presume what kinds of componentform a file name.

On the other hand, in a case where an image cluster ID is not new, adetail rule of each template component in a template of a file name isupdated.

An example of update of the detail rule of the <OCR area 1> in thetemplate of the file name in Part (1) in FIG. 9 will be described withreference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the update of the ruleof the <OCR area 1> in FIG. 9 according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

First, Part (1) in FIG. 10 illustrates the current detail rule of theOCR area 1. The rule is similar to the rule in Part (2) in FIG. 9. Part(2) in FIG. 10 illustrates a result of applying the rule.

Here, an image cluster ID 1001 is an ID for expressing similar imagedata, and the same ID is assigned to pieces of similar image data. Animage ID 1002 is an ID unique to image data. With respect to an image ID“53” indicated with an image ID 1003, a character string “Order NumberT2020” indicated as a rule application result 1004 is obtained by finalapplication of the detail rule by the user, and a character string“Order Number T2020” indicated as a user modification result 1005 isobtained by final modification by the user. These character strings“Order Number T2020” and “Order Number T2020” are different.

Here, a rule common to three pieces of image data is presumed. Threeimages all have a character string “Order Number”, as indicted by theuser modification result 1005 as well as user modification results 1006and 1007. With respect to the image ID “53”, as indicted by the usermodification result 1005, the character string “Order Number T2020” isobtained by modification performed by the user. Therefore, it is highlylikely that “Order Number” is a fixed character string. Accordingly, arule defining “Order Number” as a fixed character string is added.Further, in the example of the image ID “53”, when the rule applicationresult 1004 and the user modification result 1005 are compared with eachother, “T” is modified to “T” by the user. Therefore, the conversionrule is also added. This results in generation of a rule illustrated inPart (3) in FIG. 10.

In Part (3) in FIG. 10, as indicated with an. OCR setting 1008, thefixed character string “Order Number” is added to the OCR setting rulein Part (1) in FIG. 10. In addition, a rule for modifying “7” to “T” isadded, as indicated with an individual false conversion correction rule1009. Part (4) in FIG. 10 illustrates a result assumed to be obtained ina case where the rule is applied. This also makes it unnecessary for theuser to make a modification in the image ID “53”, as indicated with auser assumption modification result 1010.

This rule can be continuously updated to a more reliable rule, as theimage data increases. For example, assume that the amount of the imagedata having the image cluster ID “3” further increases, and image datahaving information about an OCR area 3 as illustrated in Part (1) inFIG. 11 is added.

At this point, the rule in Part (3) in FIG. 10 is applied, and image IDs“65” and “70” are not modified by the user, in user modification results1101 and 1102. Meanwhile, in a user modification result 1103, amodification is made for an image ID “81” by the user. When a characterstring 1104 of individual conversion correction rule application and theuser modification result 1103 are compared with each other, “q” ismodified to “9” and “I” is modified to “1”, by the user. Therefore, itis conceivable that the conversion rule may be added as a new rule.However, considering that the part is a four-digit number sequence inall pieces of the past image data having the same image cluster ID “3”,a rule defining the part as a four-digit number sequence is added. Thisis an OCR setting rule 1106 in Part (2) in FIG. 11. In this process, therule for converting “E” to “3”, which is a rule added in the past, isremoved because this is included in the added number restriction. Thisis an individual false conversion correction rule 1107 in Part (2) inFIG. 11. If the user manually specifies such a complicated rule from thebeginning, a burden on the user considerably increases. In addition, aUI becomes complicated and thus, operability decreases. However, aburden on the user can be reduced and a command rule can be updated toan optimum rule, by thus changing and adding a rule, according to ahistory of contents of modification performed by the user.

Part (3) in FIG. 11 illustrates a result assumed to be obtained in acase where the updated rule in Part (2) in FIG. 11 is applied to theimage data in Part (1) in FIG. 11. It is found that, in a userassumption modification result 1109 of the image ID “81” in Part (3) inFIG. 11, modification by the user is not assumed, and thus a better ruleis provided.

Updating of the rule is continued in this manner, and a rule in Part (4)in FIG. 11 is assumed to be finally obtained. A sub-rule ID “3”indicated, with a numeral 1108 in Part (2) in FIG. 11 is updated to asub-rule ID “4” indicated with a numeral 1110 in Part (4) in FIG. 11,and is further updated to a sub-rule ID “5” indicated with a numeral1111. An OCR setting 1112, which is the rule of the sub-rule ID 5, is arule that, can automatically modify a character recognition result withhigh probability thanks to many restrictions on an OCR result, even ifthe OCR result is incorrect. Further, specific processing to beperformed in the OCR setting 1112 include conversion of a head characterstring to the fixed character string “Order Number”, characterrecognition of one character limited to two text types (T or R),character recognition of four characters limited to numbers, and removalof the fixed character string “Date”.

Apparently, this is much more complicated, and resistance to an error incharacter recognition is improved, as compared with the initial OCRsetting 901 illustrated in Part (2) in FIG. 9. The number of pieces ofimage data necessary for presuming such a rule is large, as comparedwith the presumption of the OCR setting 901.

As to which rule is applicable, usefulness of each rule may bedetermined by holding possible basic rules beforehand, customizing theserules for a target image cluster ID, and applying the customized rules.In a case where a plurality of rules is useful, which rule is to beselected is determined according to the number of pieces of image datahaving the same image cluster ID. In a case where the number of piecesof image data is small, many errors may occur if a versatile rule isselected. Therefore, in the case where the number of pieces of image

Subsequently, a versatile rule is applied in stages. Such a case can bethereby dealt with. In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, therule is selected based on such a policy.

In this way, the rules of a plurality of pieces of image data having thesame image cluster ID are used, so that a naming rule can be updated toa naming rule capable of presuming a more complicated file name. Usingthe naming rule, a file name more desirable to the user can bepresented. The rule updating method described here is only an example.For example, a probability model may be introduced, and a method ofintroducing a rule based on the probability of occurrence of a characterstring may be used.

As described above, according to the first exemplary embodiment, theuser only repeats the normal file naming operation to cause automaticlearning of a file naming rule. As a result, a more appropriate filename for the user can be recommended. This can greatly reduce a burdenon the user who sets a rule for determining a file name.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedbelow. A different part from the above-described first exemplaryembodiment will be described. The different part from the firstexemplary embodiment is relevant to the flowchart in FIG. 3, and will bedescribed with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 12. A configuration ofeach of the image processing apparatus 100 and the file naming apparatus120, and a system including these apparatuses according to the secondexemplary embodiment, are similar to those of the above-described firstexemplary embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof will beomitted.

The flowchart in FIG. 12 illustrates processing

for generation of information for naming a file of image data by thefile naming apparatus 120 according to the second exemplary embodiment.The processing illustrated in the flowchart begins upon receipt of imagedata from the image processing apparatus 100. The CPU 127 loads aprogram from the storage unit 129 into the RAM 128, and executes theloaded program, thereby implementing the processing illustrated in theflowchart. In FIG. 12, steps similar to the steps in FIG. 3 are providedwith the numerals that are the same as the numerals of the steps in FIG.3, and the description thereof will be omitted. However, in the secondexemplary embodiment, in a case where there is a plurality of pieces ofsimilar image data with a high matching degree in step S305, a pluralityof image cluster IDs may be assigned to image data in processing. Whenthe plurality of image cluster IDs is assigned, step S306 to step S309are performed for each of the image cluster IDs.

Assume that the processing thus proceeds from step S309 to step S1201.In step S1201, the CPU 127 functions as the device control unit 122, andreads information about a file naming result saved in the storage unit129. The CPU 127 then determines whether a recommended file name is usedfor an actual file name. Here, if the CPU 127 determines that therecommended file name is not used for the actual file name (NO in stepS1201), the processing proceeds to step S1203, because there is apossibility that an image cluster ID may be assigned by mistake. In acase where a plurality of recommended file names is present and none ofthese recommended file names is used for the actual file name (NO instep S1201), the processing also proceeds to step S1203. In a case whereany one of the recommended file names is used for the actual file name(YES in step S1201), the processing proceeds to step S1204.

Assume that the processing proceeds from step S311 to step S1202. Instep S1202, the CPU 127 functions as the device control unit 122, andreads a file naming result saved in the storage unit 129, andinformation about an existing file naming rule. The CPU 127 then appliesthe existing file naming rule to the image data in processing, andperforms a search to find whether there is a naming rule that cangenerate a file name determined by a user. If a naming rule that cangenerate the file name determined by the user is found as a result ofthe search (YES in step S1202), the processing proceeds to step S1203,because there is a possibility that an image cluster ID may be assignedby mistake. If no naming rule that can generate the file name determinedby the user is found as a result of the search (NO in step S1202), theprocessing proceeds to step S1204. In step S1203, the CPU 127 functionsas the file name presumption unit 126. Specifically, the CPU 127verifies a possibility that an incorrect image cluster ID may beassigned, and reassigns an image cluster ID, if necessary. Here, thecase where the processing proceeds from step S1201 to step S1203includes a possibility that an existing file naming rule may beinappropriate, and a possibility that an existing image cluster IDassigned to the image data may be inappropriate. To distinguish betweenthese two possibilities, the CPU 127 performs a step similar to stepS312 in FIG. 3, thereby verifying whether the file naming rule can beupdated to a file naming rule that can appropriately give a file name tothe image data in processing. In a case where there is a plurality ofrecommended file names, the CPU 127 performs the verification for eachof all image cluster IDs. In a case where the file naming rule issuccessfully updated as a result of the verification, the existing filenaming rule is inappropriate, while the image cluster ID has no problem.Here, as for the image cluster ID for which the file naming rule is notsuccessfully updated, association with the image data in processing isdeleted. As a result, in the next processing and afterward, only animage ID, which matches with the image data of the current processingtarget and is not deleted, is associated with an image similar to imagedata in processing. Therefore, the possibility of recommending a filename desired by the user can be raised.

In contrast, in a case where none of the file naming rules issuccessfully updated, the image cluster ID has a problem, while theexisting file naming rule has no problem. This occurs, for example, whennew image data being similar but having a different rule is input. Inthat case, all of existing image cluster IDs associated with the imagedata in processing are deleted, and a new image cluster ID is assignedto the image data in processing.

In a case where the processing proceeds from step S1202 to step S1203,the CPU 127 assigns an image cluster ID, which is associated with thenaming rule that can generate the file name determined by the user andthat is found by the search in step S1202, to the image data inprocessing.

Even if an incorrect image cluster ID is assigned to the image data inprocessing, this can be modified by the reassignment of the image classID in step S1203. Since the image cluster ID can be thus modified,normal operation can be maintained, even if a threshold for determiningwhether there is similar image data in step S305 is not appropriate.Moreover, even in a situation where there is a large amount of similarimage data, the normal operation can be maintained.

The processing then proceeds from step S1203 to step S1204. In stepS1204, the CPU 127 functions as the file name presumption unit 126, andupdates a file naming rule. The processing here is basically similar tostep S312 in FIG. 3, and thus only a different part will be described.

In a case where the processing proceeds from step S1201 to step S1204,even if there is a plurality of recommended file names, only image dataassociated with the recommended file name used for the actual file namebecomes a processing target. Here, as for an image ID that does notbecome a processing target, association with the image data being theprocessing target is deleted. This makes it possible to raise thepossibility of recommending a file name desired by the user, as in stepS1203. In contrast, in a case where the processing proceeds from stepS1203 to step S1204, the assigned new image ID, and the image ID forwhich the file naming rule is successfully updated in step S1203, becomea processing target. Meanwhile, in a case where the processing proceedsfrom, step S1202 to step S1204, only one image ID is present to be aprocessing target and therefore, the image data of the ID becomes aprocessing target. In this way, only a specific image cluster ID is usedas a processing target. This makes it possible to update a presumptionrule of an appropriate file name, even if matching with a plurality ofpieces of image data is allowed. The processing then proceeds to stepS1205. In step S1205, the CPU 127 functions as the device control unit122. Specifically, the CPU 127 removes image data of an originaldocument after a lapse of a predetermined period among pieces of pastimage data, from targets in presuming a file naming rule, or reduces aweight assigned to such image data. Alternatively, the CPU 127 removessuch image data from matching targets. This changes the file namingrule, and can thereby prevent recommendation of a file naming rule thathas not already been used.

According to the above-described second exemplary embodiment, a namingrule for a file name can be appropriately updated, even when matchingbetween image data in processing and past image data is incorrect. Thiscan reduce the possibility of occurrence of such a matching error,afterward. Further, a naming rule for a file name can also beappropriately updated, when a plurality of file names is recommended.Furthermore, an appropriate file name can also be recommended, when afile naming rule is changed.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

Any of the image processing apparatuses described in the presentspecification can also be implemented by such processing that a programthat implements one or more functions of any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a networkor storage medium. One or more processors in a computer of the system orapparatus read the program, and execute the read program. Moreover, anyof these image processing apparatuses can also be implemented by acircuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) thatimplements one or more functions.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment (s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s) , and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an versatile disc (DVD), orBlu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2017-014513, filed Jan. 30, 2017, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: acharacter recognition processing unit configured to execute characterrecognition processing on the image data; an acquisition unit configuredto acquire one or more (character string blocks included in the imagedata, from the image data; a selection unit configured to select acharacter string block to be used for setting of a file name, from amongthe one or more character string blocks acquired by the acquisitionunit; and a setting unit configured to set the file name of image databy using a character recognition result of the character recognitionprocessing unit for the character string block selected by the selectionunit.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a display unit configured to display the one or morecharacter string blocks acquired by the acquisition unit, in anidentifiable manner, wherein the selection unit selects a characterstring block from among the one or more character string blocksdisplayed by the display unit, according to a user instruction.
 3. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displayunit displays the file name of the image data set by the setting unit.4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising an acceptance unit configured to accept a user instructionfor modifying the file name set by the selling unit, wherein the displayunit displays the file name modified by the user instruction accepted bythe acceptance unit.
 5. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a reading unit configured to read anoriginal document, wherein the image data is obtained by reading theoriginal document by the reading unit.
 6. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured tostore identification information about image data, in association with afile naming rule set by the setting unit, wherein the setting unit setsa file name of new image data, by using a file naming rule associatedwith identification information about image data stored in the storageunit similar to the new image data, among one or more file naming rulesstored in the storage unit.
 7. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein the file naming rule includes information foridentifying the character string block selected by the selection unit.8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theacquisition unit acquires a character string block, a position of thecharacter string block, and a size of the character string block, fromthe image data.
 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the setting unit selects a file naming rule associated withidentification information about image data similar to the new imagedata, from the one or more file naming rules stored in the storage unit,by using the position and the size of the character string blockacquired by the acquisition unit.
 10. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 9, further comprising an acceptance unit configuredto accept a modification for the file name set by the setting unit froma user, wherein the storage unit stores information about themodification for the file name accepted by the acceptance unit, inassociation with the image data.
 11. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the setting unit sets the file name ofthe new image data, by using the information about the modification forthe file name associated with the identification information about theimage data similar to the new image data.
 12. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is capable ofsetting predetermined information about the image data, as a file nameof the image data.
 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim12, wherein the predetermined information is at least informationindicating a name of a user logging in when the image data is read, or adate and time when the image data is generated.
 14. A control method foran image processing apparatus, the control method comprising: performingcharacter recognition processing on image data; acquiring one or morecharacter string blocks included in the image data; selecting acharacter string block to be used for setting of a file name of theimage data, from among the acquired one or more character string blocks;and setting the file name of the image data using a characterrecognition result in the character recognition processing for acharacter included in the selected character string block.
 15. The imageprocessing method according to claim 14, further comprising displayingthe acquired one or more (character string blocks, in an identifiablemanner, wherein the selected character string block is a characterstring block selected from among the displayed one or more characterstring blocks according to a user instruction.
 16. A storage mediumstoring a computer program executing a control method for an imageprocessing apparatus, the control method comprising: performingcharacter recognition processing on image data; acquiring one or morecharacter string blocks included in the image data; selecting acharacter string block to be used for setting of a file name of theimage data, from among the acquired one or more character string blocks;and setting the file name of the image data using a characterrecognition result in the character recognition processing for acharacter included in the selected character string block.